I’ve been working quietly behind the scenes on something I’m really excited to share with you. But before I introduce it, I want to give you a bit of context.

Recently, I’ve felt a little stuck in my business. Not broken. Not unhappy. Just a bit flat. My income has been steady. I’ve worked with incredible people. I’ve felt grateful for this work most days. And still, something felt missing. I’d been teaching the same topics in the same way for a long time, and it had been a while since I’d felt truly inspired or creatively stretched.

That’s shifted. I can’t pinpoint one single reason. It’s probably a mix of things. But I haven’t felt this energised or creatively alive in my business for a long time. Being in the mastermind I joined has played a part in that. It’s pushed me to look more closely at my own business, what’s working, what’s not, and what’s actually needed at the stage I’m in. And doing that has helped me look at the whole business journey with fresh eyes.

From that reflection came something new.

I’ve created a Sustainable Growth Framework. It maps the journey from starting out to building a stable, profitable, grounded business in a way that feels clear and workable rather than overwhelming.

As you already know, this journey isn’t straightforward. Every single one of us faces seasons of doubt, confusion, momentum and growth. Even the most established, even the people who look like they have it all together from the outside. My hope is that this framework helps you locate yourself within that journey and understand what’s needed right now rather than trying to do everything at once.

The framework outlines three phases: Root, Rise and Bloom

(Yes, these are the names of my three new programs).

Here’s what they each represent.

Root is the first phase. It’s where you’re becoming a business owner. Not just someone with skills or a qualification, but someone who is beginning to step into the identity of “this is my work and this is my business.” Root is where you start developing clarity, confidence and structure. It’s also a stage where things can feel messy, slow or uncertain. So much of this season is internal. You’re not just defining what you do. You’re learning how to show up for your business, make decisions, talk about your work and connect with people in real ways.

Rise is the second phase. It’s where things start to click, but not consistently. You know your work matters. You’ve had clients. You’ve seen signs of traction. But there’s still a gap between what you know you’re capable of and what’s happening day to day. Rise is about strengthening the right things, simplifying the rest and building the rhythm that finally brings steadiness to your work and income.

Bloom is the third phase. It’s where your work is established, trusted and in demand. You’ve built something real. Clients come because your reputation, message and presence are working. People know what you do and value it. Bloom isn’t the stage where everything feels easy. It’s the stage where your success begins to stretch you. You’re holding a lot. And you may be realising that the way you’re working isn’t sustainable if things continue to grow.

And just to be clear: these phases don’t correlate to how long you’ve been in business. I’ve met people in Bloom who are fairly new in business but experienced rapid growth, and people in Root who’ve been at this for years. There is no hierarchy, no judgement. Just different needs at different moments.

What I’ve seen over and over again is that each phase requires different strategies. What works beautifully in one phase won’t land at all in another. And often the frustration or stuckness people feel comes from focusing on something that isn’t the priority right now.

You might already have a sense of where you land. And if you’re not sure, I’ve made something to help.

The Sustainable Growth Quiz.

When you complete it, you’ll learn which phase you’re in and you’ll get access to a guide created specifically for that phase. It outlines what’s important right now and what isn’t, so you can stop scattering your energy and start focusing on what will actually move your business forward.

I’ve spent weeks creating this and testing it, and I’ll be honest, I’m still a bit nervous to share it. I’ve never made a quiz before and oh my, it’s been a learning curve. But I’m proud of it. And I hope it’s genuinely useful.

You can take the quiz by clicking the button below. 

TAKE THE QUIZ

If you have the time, I’d love to hear what you think in the comments below. Let me know whether the phase resonated and whether the guide felt supportive. I don’t expect everyone to comment, but even a handful would help me know whether this is landing in the way I intended.

DO YOU WANT TO ROOT & RISE IN 2026?

If you’re interested, I’d love you to check out Root & Rise. My two, year long programs in 2026 designed to help you grow your business with clarity, ease, and integrity.

Head to www.carolineleon.com/mastermind for all the details.